The total number of HSE construction inspections in 2014/15 was 9,656. This is 8.7% fewer than the 10,577 site visits made two years previously in 2012/13.
The numbers were obtained by construction union Ucatt via a Freedom of Information request.
The biggest reduction was in Scotland which saw a drop of 55.7% in inspections. Inspections were also down 28.5% in the northeast, 32.5% in the northwest, 19.6% in the southeast and by 3.4% in Wales. There were some English regions where the number of inspections increased but the overall reduction for England was 2%.
Ucatt acting general secretary Brian Rye said: “This fall in inspection activity is deeply troubling. The prospect of an unexpected knock on the door by a construction inspector is what keeps many employers on their toes. If employers believe that their safety procedures are not going to be checked this will lead to slackness and corners being cut. Workers could pay with their lives.”
He added: “The HSE needs to explain what is behind the reduction in inspectors: is this due to budget cuts or specific policies to reduce inspection activity?”
In response, the HSE said: “Construction is a sector HSE treats as a priority. HSE’s work with the industry follows a national plan, and we have teams of construction specialists across Great Britain. Although Scotland has a lower incidence rate for non-fatal injuries in construction compared to GB as a whole, the risks remain the same irrespective of geography, so Scotland gets the same commitment from us as elsewhere in GB.
“Inspection and enforcement, while important, are part of a much wider mix of approaches for improving health and safety standards in construction. Focusing solely on inspection numbers therefore gives an inaccurate picture and does not reflect all the work being carried out by others. In addition to inspection, HSE investigates accidents, cases of ill health, and concerns about unsafe construction activities.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
